Ireland

Mainstream Renewable Power has closed a deal to sell its 46-MW Oldman 2 Wind Farm, located in Alberta Canada, to IKEA. Mainstream has commenced construction of the project at a cost of approximately CAD$90m and it is expected to be operational in the autumn of 2014 at which point IKEA will purchase the plant. As part of the deal Mainstream will continue to operate and maintain the wind farm on behalf of IKEA for its lifespan.

ABB delivered the East West Interconnector, the world’s highest capacity HVDC light underwater power link, to EirGrid, the Irish transmission system operator. The 500-MW transmission connection establishes a link between the Irish and U.K. grids, enabling cross-border power flows and enhancing grid reliability and security of electricity supplies. The new link also facilitates power trading between the two countries and connects Ireland to the European grid.